New Emmy Noether Group at the University of Bayreuth

The new Emmy Noether Group is integrated into an excellent scientific environment and can make excellent use of the CRC for its further development. In this way, a variety of synergies can be established between the junior research group and the CRC 1357. The aim of the research project is to investigate the abrasion and fragmentation of plastics into smaller particles during sediment transport through rivers into the oceans, resulting in micro- and nanoplastic particles. The project is being funded by the DFG with over 1.9 million euros over a period of 6 years.

"I am delighted about the DFG funding and the opportunity to deepen my research at the University of Bayreuth," says Dr. Florian Pohl. "Due to the wide-ranging expertise and excellent facilities of the CRC 1357 Microplastics, the University of Bayreuth is the ideal location for the establishment of my Emmy Noether junior research group"

"With Dr. Pohl, we are gaining an outstanding young scientist to whom we can offer an ideal framework in terms of methods, infrastructure and expertise in the field of microplastics research," says Prof. Dr. Christian Laforsch, spokesperson for the CRC 1357 Microplastics. "Particularly in view of the six-year duration, important results can be expected here with regard to transportation, the resulting fragmentation and the associated hazard potential of microplastics for the environment and humans. I am therefore looking forward to the upcoming collaboration."

On their way in the water, plastic particles are exposed to the permanent forces of currents and friction caused by sediment, which increasingly breaks the plastics down into micro- and nanoplastics. This process can also lead to the release of chemical additives from the plastic particles. Additives are used to achieve changes in the material properties of plastic, such as light resistance or fire protection. The relationship between the size reduction of the plastic particles and the release rate of chemical additives will be investigated in experiments. The release rate is particularly relevant, as not only the plastic particles themselves have an impact on ecosystems, but the chemical additives in particular could have a toxic effect on organisms. Dr. Pohl's Emmy Noether Group will also carry out important research to understand whether marine sediments on the ocean floor represent long-term sinks for microplastics. Based on the results, his group will investigate the contamination of these sediments with microplastics and associated chemical additives.

In addition to its unique infrastructure - its key labs, the 20 project groups and international scientists from the various faculties and cooperation partners - and its comprehensive significance for all environmental areas of atmospheric, terrestrial and limnic, i.e. freshwater, systems, the CRC 1357, which was established in 2019, also offers an excellent basis for research on marine systems.